Clarke-Lindros Standoff Produces No Winners

Barclay Poole
Apr 24, 2001

A loud laugh was heard around the National Hockey League on Saturday afternoon, moments after the Philadelphia Flyers 8-0 loss and series ending defeat to the Buffalo Sabres. Unofficial reports had the laugh originating from the home of restricted free agent Eric Lindros.

Due to a much-heralded dispute with GM Bobby Clarke, Lindros was forced to watch the entire year from the sidelines. The concussion prone center had been cleared to play earlier in the year, but remained property of the Flyers after Clarke refused to trade his rights.

Lindros was left with no option but to miss every game and collect no pay from the Flyers. Love of the game aside, losing out on a multi-million dollar paycheck was enough to make him look like the standoff's loser.

But the Sabres' victory over Philadelphia has reversed momentum. The first round playoff exit is a major disappointment to a team that finished with the third highest point total in the Eastern Conference. Expectations were high, especially after the team came within one game of the Stanley Cup Finals last year.

Bobby Clarke must now answer for his decision to hold on to an asset such as Lindros, instead of trading him to improve his team for a run at the Stanley Cup. Was the decision to hold on to Lindros based on the quality of offers from Toronto or ego?

Certainly Clarke's options in trading Lindros were limited. Toronto was the only possible destination Lindros agreed to until a small number of clubs were added to his short list a few days before the trade deadline.

But in late February, a deal with the Maple Leafs had apparently been worked out, a deal that Clarke had apparently requested. It involved a package that included Danny Markov, Nik Antropov and a draft pick coming to Philadelphia for Lindros. At the last moment, Clarke vetoed the trade and demanded Tomas Kaberle as a substitution for Markov.

Was there an immediate impact player in the package? Probably not, but the assets could certainly have been used to trigger another deal with a third party - the Phoenix Coyotes and Keith Tkachuk perhaps?

Clarke not only lost out on gaining assets from Toronto, but St. Louis as well. When Lindros expanded his list of acceptable teams at the trade deadline, Clarke reportedly turned down a deal that would have sent center Pierre Turgeon to Philadelphia for Lindros just before the deadline.

The Lindros-Clarke standoff can be blamed on nothing but egos. Lindros was firm on his Maple Leaf-only demands almost all year and seemed more interested in having a series of root canals than playing again for the Flyers. Meanwhile, one wonders if Clarke ever planned on trading Lindros' rights, loving every minute of his absence from the league.

While both parties can be blamed for the eruption of what was once an amiable relationship, Clarke's actions have much larger ramifications.

Lindros basically hurt himself by not playing. Sure, we can make a case that he hurt his teammates as well, but ultimately it is his choice as a free agent to play where he wants. If he was under contract, we may have a different story. (Alexei Yashin please take note.)

Clarke on the other hand let his ego get in the way of a team's success. The Flyers had a very good regular season. Leaving an asset like Lindros on the shelf and not utilizing him to give the Flyers every chance at advancing deep into the playoffs was not fair to the team or their fans.

What happens with Eric Lindros remains to be seen. Once the playoffs are over, trade talks could once again heat up and he may end up in the league next year. Or, Clarke may continue to hold the trump card and leave Lindros a helpless spectator.

The latter will certainly not be beneficial to the Flyers organization. Not only will they hold an asset of little use to them on the ice, but also the cloud of the Lindros affair will continue to loom. On a much larger scale, it is the league and fans that are suffering by not having one of the most complete packages of size, strength and talent ever to lace up a pair of skates.

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